CURRENTS THAT ARE GOING TO FORM. ALREADY A MODERATE LEVEL LOOKING TO INCREASE. FOR MORE ON THAT LET'S HEAD TO NEPTUNE BEACH AND SAY HI TO ELIZABETH. THINGS ARE PRETTY QUIET OUT HERE THIS MORNING. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL MORNING. BUT AS THE WEEK PROGRESSES, LIFE GUARDS HERE AT NEPTUNE BEACH SAY YOU CAN EXPECT HIGH WINDS AS WELL AS RIP CURRENTS. NOW IF YOU TAKE A LOOK NOW WE HAVE DECENT WAVES OUT HERE. ONE THING LIFE GUARDS ARE REMINDING IS EVEN THOUGH THINGS LOOK CALM, IT MIGHT NOT BE THE CASE NECESSARILY WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN THE WATER. THEY SAY IT'S SO EASY TO GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT CURRENT AND THERE'S A COUPLE MORE THINGS THEY WANT YOU TO KNOW IF YOU'RE HEADING OUT TO THE BEACH THIS WEEK. I THINK EVEN IF YOU'RE A STRONG SWIMMER, YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. BECAUSE YOU'LL BE OUT THERE HAVING FUN AND CAN GET PULLED OUT PRETTY FAR. TALKING ABOUT RIP CURRENTS, SOMETHING HES YOU DON'T MESS WITH. THE TROPICAL DEPRESSION LOOMING OFF THE EAST COAST ALREADY BRINGING STRONGER WINDS, LARGER WAVES AND THE BIG RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. WITH THE BUSY 4TH OF JULY SWIFTLY APPROACHING, THEY ASK BEACH GOERS TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL. IT'S THE PERFECT STORM BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK JUST BECAUSE IT'S SUNNY IT'S SAFE AND THEY WANT TO GET INTO IT. THEY SAY IF THE WATER LOOKS CALM, THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN IT IS. HE SAYS LIFE GUARDS ARE ON HIGH ALERT WARNING NOT TO GO IN TOO FAR. WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP EVERYBODY WAIST DEEP. NOT LET PEOPLE SWIM OUT TOO FAR AND AZ VISING PEOPLE OF THE CONDITIONS. AND OUT OF TOWNERS SAY THEY'RE NOT GETTING IN THE WAY OF MOTHER NATURE. WITH THE STORM BREWING AND THE RIP CURRENT, YOU KNOW, I THINK PROBABLY JUST ENJOY THE SAND AND ENJOY THE SUN. SOME OTHER TIPS FROM LIFE GUARDS THEY SAY TO ALWAYS SWIM NEAR A LIFEGUARD STAND IN CASE YOU DO GET STUCK OR NEED HELP. THEY CAN COME TO YOUR RESCUE. THEY ALSO SAY SWIM WITH A BUDDY OR FLOTATION DEVICE BECAUSE THAT CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE AND IF YOU FEEL CAUGHT IN THE CURRENT MAKE SURE YOU ALWAYS SWIM PARALLEL TO THE WATER. REPORTING LIVE FROM NEPTUNE BEACH, ELIZABETH CAMPBELL, CHANNEL 4, THE LOCAL STATION. THIS, OF COURSE, IS A GOOD TIME TO REMIND TO YOU HAVE THE FREE HURRICANE TRACKER APP ON YOUR PHONE OR iPAD. IF YOU DON'T, GO TO THE APPLE OR ANDROID SMARTPHONE STORE, THE APP STORE. DOWNLOAD THE APP ITSELF. FIND THE PREDICTED PATH OF ANY STORM AND WATCHES AND WARNINGS

NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. -

The tropical storm looming off the coast of Florida is already affecting the beaches. There's rougher than usual surf and a high risk of dangerous rip currents.

Lifeguards say they're on high alert with windy conditions and turbulent waters.

"When you have the heat and humidity, the sun, this northeast wind, the increase in the waves and the rip currents, it's kind of like a little perfect storm here," Banks said. "People think just because it's sunny the water is safe. They want to get into it."

Rip currents can sweep even the best of swimmers out and away from the beach.

"I think even if you are a strong swimmer you have to be careful, because you could be out there having fun and get worn out and you can get pulled pretty far out today," surfer Jack Carter said. "So you could be fighting the rip for a little while."

As the Fourth of July festivities approach, lifeguards expect the crowds to pick up this week and the dangers to increase. It's enough reason for some to sit it out.

"Not with that storm brewing, the rip currents, you know," tourist Jordan Richardson said. "I think we will probably just enjoy the sand and enjoy the sun."

If you're caught in a rip current, lifeguards say don't panic, keep calm and swim parallel to shore until you're out of it. They say swim near a lifeguard or with a buddy if possible and if in doubt, just stay out.

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